Shabbat Service for Omer #25

Uncategorized 1 Minute

Tonight is the 25th day of the Omer, which corresponds to the “netzach of netzach” or the victory over victory. True victory lies in decolonizing the idea of victory, to realize that winning requires someone else to lose. The Hebrew word netzach does not just mean victory but also Eternity/that which endures. Colonial concepts of winning tends to focus on the here and now, which is part of the urgency culture of this world that causes us to always be anxious. Recalibrating our mindset to that which is enduring, and thinking about the generations to come: this is the big “heavenly win” that brings healing and holiness.

Tonight and throughout Shabbat, let us refocus and realign ourselves with Indigenous wisdom of thinking about the seven generations that came before us (lest we take things to personally) or the seven generations still to come (that we may be good stewards of this planet and vessels for healing). This corresponds to the Hebrew teaching of “l’dor va’dor” which requires us to recognize that we are all but links in a chain of generations: may we be vessels of healing Light.

I talk about this and how it relates to our Torah portion during tonight’s Shabbat Service which I am posting here by popular request for those folks that had conflicts or were running late or had technical glitches. May this Shabbat bring shalom: a full and complete healing and peace for all who live.

Published by Rabbi Dr. Nachshon Siritsky

This blog was first started when I was known as Rabbi Nadia and when I worked south of the colonial border, in what is known as the United States. I served as a rabbi of several large and small synagogues across Turtle Island (North America) before moving the beautiful unceded Mi'kma'ki (colonial name: Nova Scotia, Canada) where I work as a social worker. I also support a growing group of Jewish communities that are part of The Chavurah Collective: Decolonizing Judaism in Mi'kma'ki and Beyond and use this personal blog to post services that I lead, and which are open to anyone interested in joining. As a second-generation Holocaust survivor and someone who identifies as nonbinary and transgender, I feel called to create a world free from hatred and prejudice. I understand the closet to be a metaphor for the ways that colonization/society has wounded us through intergenerational trauma that manifests in intersectional ways. I believe in the universality of spiritual teachings across traditions and their alignment with contemporary psychological theory. As I transition from serving as a pulpit rabbi to becoming a community rabbi, I've maintained this blog as a platform to share my theology and connect with others, especially as part of my personal sense of Calling to advocate for "tikkun olam" (=the healing of the world). Canada's recent commitment to begin a restorative justice process of Truth and Reconciliation has inspired me to reflect upon the ways that decolonizing one's self can lead to restorative justice and a global healing: this blog reflects my effort to distill these insights. Just as the fringes of a prayer shawl hold its holiness, I believe my greatest contribution lies in guiding others home and towards wholeness. Having exited my gender closet, I have continued to emerge and am committed to doing what I can to help others become who they were created to be. Engaging in the sacred work of beginning to decolonize myself, I seek to share these insights with others and to advocate for the equal rights and healing potential that I believe is what G!d wants for us all. Through this blog, I hope to inspire healing, insight, and empowerment, inviting others to find their voice and path. Thank you for joining me on this journey.

Published